VOLLEYBALL: A high error count has cost the Australian men’s volleyball team dearly in their FIVB World League game against Japan, the Volleyroos losing 18-25, 25-17, 21-25, 22-25 in Slovakia.
After winning their opening match in a five-set thriller against Portugal, the Australians have now lost consecutive matches against Slovakia and Japan, and will head to Finland for three more matches next weekend.
The Australians dominated in all the statistics, except in the error count. The Volleyroos had 31 errors compared to Japan’s 15.
After resting on Saturday, captain Paul Carroll once again top scored with 24 points, while Nathan Roberts, who was also rested on Saturday, had 23 points including three blocks.
"We are disappointed,” Carroll said.
“We were playing very well, but then at times we let them play better. They had great ball control and we didn’t put them under enough pressure.
“We have only one victory, we need to work and play better. Now we are heading to Finland and I hope it will be better.
“We are lucky that we don´t need to fight for the place in Finals. We want to be in best shape possible in Gold Coast.”
Coach Mark Lebedew said his team had a different attitude against Japan.
"I think we didn’t approach the match in same way that we approached first two matches,” he said.
“We were worrying about the things that are not important and we didn’t play well. We have to learn to play every point with the same approach, otherwise we will never get better.”
The Volleyroos are guaranteed a place in the Group Two semi-finals on the Gold Coast next month as the host nation.
Australia vs Slovakia
Australia has been beaten 3-1 by host nation Slovakia in its second match of the men’s 2017 FIVB World Volleyball League, but coach Mark Lebedew said he was still pleased with the effort.
Lebedew decided to rest captain Paul Carroll and the team’s most capped player, Nathan Roberts, after their starring role in Friday night’s 3-2 win over Portugal, with the new line-up taking some time to gel.
“We played with a different lineup tonight and it took them half a set to find their rhythm,” Lebedew said.
“Once we did we were able to do a really good job with our serve and block and could really put them under pressure. Our commitment and intensity was excellent and we fought back from tough situations to have a chance to go up 2-1.
“In the end we lacked a little bit of luck, but if we play exactly the same game 10 times we would win eight of them. For that reason I am pleased with the effort.”
Slovakia took the opening set 25-22, before the Volleyroos took control at the net to take the second 21-25.
The third set was very even, with both teams having several chances to take control. Australia held set point three times, but with an enthusiastic home crowd urging them on, Slovakia eventually took the set 30-28.
The match remained even in the fourth set until the score reached 18-all, with the home team skipping away to take the set 25-22 and the match 3-1.
Lincoln Williams was the leading point scorer for Australia with 19, while Sam Walker had an incredible seven blocks at the net.
Australia will platy Japan, who has lost both their opening matches, on Sunday before heading to Finland next weekend.
Australia vs Portugal
The Australian men’s volleyball team has survived some last-minute jitters to post a hard-fought five-set win over Portugal in their opening match of the 2017 FIVB World League in Slovakia.
The Volleyroos held three match points at 14-11 in the fifth set, before losing the next four points to be staring down the barrel of a heart-breaking defeat.
But the team, led superbly by Australia’s most capped international player, Nathan Roberts, and captain Paul Carroll, rallied to finally take the set 20-18 and the match, 3-2.
“I learned tonight we are capable of playing very well for long periods and we don't get discouraged too easily” coach Lebedew, who was in his first World League game in charge of Australia, said.
“After losing the first set, then fourth, then losing match balls we just kept plugging away and giving it our best shot.
“All wins add to the confidence of the team and to the group memory, for want of a better description. It is a good starting point, we are improving every day, but we have a long way to go.”
Roberts, with 350 caps for Australia, led the way for the Volleyroos with 29 points in a man-of-the-match performance, while Carroll finished with 24 points in a strong all-round performance.
“I am very proud that we mentally stuck in,” Carroll said.
“It is very hard when you waste a lead like this, it was 14-11 for us. I am happy that we were able to win it finally and it is important for us, because it was our first official match in this season."
The Australians lost the opening set 21-25, but then appeared to have the match under control when they took the next two sets 25-20, 25-18, before Portugal fought back to take the fourth 22-25 to level the tie.
The final set was extraordinary, with the Volleyroos seemingly cruising to victory at 14-11, then trailing 14-15, and then again 15-16, before finally getting the win 20-18.
Australia takes on home team Slovakia early Sunday morning, Australian time, in Poprad. Slovakia beat Japan 3-0 on Friday night.
